811.20261/59: Telegram
The Chargé in Sweden (Wheeler) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received June 25, 7:52 p.m.]
3955. Referring to Department’s 1581 of March 27, noon, and 1603 of April 16, 4 p.m.50 Since arrival from Russia of Houston and Albers, Legation has received no direct news from Kalamatiano. Lomonossoff arrived in Stockholm about June 5th bearing passport issued by the Russian Consulate General at New York visaed at the [Page 186] Foreign Office in Stockholm good to remain in Sweden till July 1st. He was accompanied by Royal R. Keely who bears Department passport 65889 good for Scandinavia, Holland, Belgium, France, Italy and British Isles and return to the United States on commercial business visaed by the Swedish Consulate General in New York. In Stockholm Lomonossoff was joined [by] Peter Travin who carries a seaman’s identification document issued by the Russian Consulate in Philadelphia which bears the stamp of the United States Customs at Baltimore dated December 21st 1918 with the number I 7559. Lomonossoff represents Keely and Travin as his “staff”. The Legation informed him that it had no knowledge of Keely and could not in any way assist the latter to enter Russia in connection with Kalamatiano’s exchange. On June 7th Lomonossoff telegraphed through the Swedish Foreign Office to Tchitcherin at Moscow stating:
“In Hunt’s telegram from Moscow to Chicago it was specifically stated that Professor Lomonossoff would be permitted to go with his staff. I consider it absolutely necessary to insist on my two secretaries going with me.”
The Legation presumes this reference to be to Mr. Frazier Hunt. Reply received by Lomonossoff through Foreign Office dated Petrograd, June 19th, was as follows:
“Cannot trace any offer on part Soviet government regarding your exchange of Kalamatiano who has been tried by revolutionary tribunal and found guilty of greatest offense and who can on no account be released. Please inform whether your departure prevented by Swedish authorities and on what grounds. On behalf of Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. Signed Litvinoff.”
On June 21st Lomonossoff wired the People’s Commissary of the Foreign Office at Moscow stating that this Legation was prepared to arrange his safe-conduct through Finland immediately his exchange for Kalamatiano was arranged but making no mention of his two associates. His telegram stated:
“Grouzenberg’s letter from Moscow of March 4th to American Minister Morris in Stockholm52 and his memorandum to Lincoln Steffens52 of Bullitt mission, both of which documents I have seen here at the Legation, repeat proposal of my exchange for Kalamatiano and urgently request that the exchange be carried out.[”]